In a groundbreaking move this fall, the stars of two of Netflix’s most acclaimed sports series, Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Full Swing, are set to compete head-to-head in The Netflix Cup, a live sports event. The Netflix Cup is the streaming giant’s inaugural venture into live sports events and promises to be a unique spectacle, as Formula 1 drivers and PGA TOUR golfers join forces for an exhilarating match play tournament.
The event will take place at the prestigious Wynn Golf Club, the exclusive 18-hole championship course nestled on the Las Vegas Strip, to kick off the week leading to the inaugural FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX.
With over 250 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix has yet to delve into the sports category, a programming genre that dominates traditional television.
Netflix has recently expanded its reach into the sports arena with a series of captivating sports documentaries, including the highly acclaimed documentary series on legendary footballer David Beckham. This strategic move reflects Netflix’s commitment to diversifying its content offerings and catering to a wider range of viewer interests.
Netflix’s foray into sports documentaries is not limited to football. The streaming giant has also produced critically acclaimed documentaries on a variety of sports, including basketball “The Last Dance”, and tennis “Break Point”. These documentary series have garnered praise for their captivating storytelling, insightful commentary, and unprecedented access to the world of sports
Scheduled to stream live on Netflix from 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET today, The Netflix Cup features an impressive roster of participants:
Formula 1 Drivers:
– Alex Albon (Williams Racing)
– Pierre Gasly (BWT Alpine F1 Team)
– Lando Norris (McLaren Racing)
– Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari)
PGA TOUR Golfers:
– Rickie Fowler
– Max Homa
– Collin Morikawa
– Justin Thomas
In a unique blend of wheels and irons, the event will see four pairs, each comprising one Formula 1 driver and one PGA TOUR professional, compete in an eight-hole match. The top two teams will then advance to a final showdown on the ninth hole, where they will vie for the inaugural Netflix Cup title. The unconventional show, bringing together athletes from different sports, is designed to test the waters of live sports programming for the streaming giant.
The Netflix Cup is a pioneering live event that brings together stars from two of Netflix’s sports programming hits. Formula 1: Drive to Survive, currently in production for its sixth season, has played a crucial role in popularizing the sport in the US. Meanwhile, Full Swing, a new series for 2023, is completing filming on its second season and has been credited with boosting PGA TOUR fan engagement.
Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Nonfiction Sports at Netflix, expressed excitement about the event, stating, “The Netflix Cup will take that energy to the next level with global stars from two popular hits competing in our first-ever live sports event.”
The success of Drive to Survive has contributed significantly to the growth of Formula 1 in the US, leading to the addition of a third American race, according to Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. Prazer added, “It’s only fitting that we kick off our inaugural race weekend with a fun event that can be streamed by F1 and PGA TOUR fans around the globe.”
Norb Gambuzza, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President of Media and Gaming, emphasized the significance of the milestone for Netflix and the PGA TOUR, stating, “We look forward to showcasing our sport’s professional athletes to a live global audience.”
The Wynn Golf Club, renowned for hosting unique matchups over the years, is set to add another remarkable event to its storied history. Steve Weitman, President of Wynn Las Vegas, noted, “This tournament will showcase a tremendous roster of talent, competing on the only golf course on the Las Vegas Strip, just steps away from the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.”
As the premier platform for captivating sports stories, Netflix boasts a diverse array of popular series, including Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Full Swing, Untold, Quarterback, Tour de France: Unchained, Break Point, and upcoming series covering athletes in track and field, soccer, rugby, and NASCAR.
Sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and Formula 1, The Netflix Cup will be produced by Excel Sports Management, BZ Entertainment, and Full Day Productions, the company behind the ESPY Awards, the Oscars Red Carpet Show, and the NFL Honors. The event promises to be a historic collision of worlds, uniting the thrill of motorsports and golf on a global stage.
Netflix delved into the realm of live events in 2023 with two notable endeavors. The initial foray featured Chris Rock’s stand-up special titled “Selective Outrage,” proving to be a resounding success for the streaming giant and marking its inaugural live event. According to The Hollywood Reporter, in the nine days following its March 4 release, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” garnered nearly 1.22 billion minutes of viewing, with 798 million accrued during the week of March 6-12. This translates to approximately 20.3 million full runs of the hourlong special.
In contrast, the second live event, “Love Is Blind: The Live Reunion,” encountered challenges that hindered its success compared to “Selective Outrage.” Airing on July 2, 2023, the reunion special faced technical issues leading to delays and disruptions. Consequently, Netflix made the decision to cancel the live stream, opting instead to record the reunion for on-demand streaming.
The Netflix Cup is scheduled for a two-and-a-half-hour runtime, with Netflix facing a critical challenge in ensuring a seamless streaming experience—a lesson learned from earlier hiccups encountered during ‘The Live Reunion’ earlier this year.
The primary concern extends beyond basic functionality, encompassing the overall quality of Netflix’s live stream and the production excellence of the golf event itself. As per insights from The Wall Street Journal, Netflix is actively exploring the possibility of exclusively streaming a live boxing match featuring Jake Paul, signaling the platform’s expanding interest in live sports content.
Reports from Bloomberg reveal that Netflix is setting a high bar for potential advertisers, pricing ad slots at a substantial $2 million for The Netflix Cup, the groundbreaking live sports event showcasing the talents of Formula 1 drivers and PGA TOUR golfers. This marks a significant foray into a new realm for the streaming giant.
With The Netflix Cup, Netflix is joining a number of other SVOD services— including NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and WBD’s Max— in offering live sports to its subscribers.
If The Netflix Cup proves to be a success, it appears that Netflix is poised to deepen its involvement in the live sports arena. The event, representing a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Formula 1 and PGA TOUR athletes, serves as a litmus test for Netflix’s ambitions in the dynamic and competitive landscape of live sports entertainment.
